Paperbark Camp

Back in 1999, when Jeremy and Irena Hutchings established Paperbark Camp near Jervis Bay on the South Coast of New South Wales, their friends thought they were nuts.

The pair travelled extensively in Africa during the ’80s and loved the safari-style accommodation they found there. They dreamed of doing a similar thing in Australia, and so they made it a reality. Paperbark Camp quickly became a success, and in the years since it launched, luxury camping (aka glamping) has become a familiar concept.

Paperbark Camp’s enduring popularity boils down to its pristine bush setting. Visitors drive down an 800-metre dirt track that cuts through forested wetlands before arriving at the site, which is located on the banks of the tranquil Currambene Creek.

Dotted among the eucalypts and paperbark trees are luxury canvas safari-style tents, each with polished hardwood floors, wraparound outdoor decks, private ensuites, and insect screens to keep the bugs out. In the heart of the complex is a treehouse which serves as Paperbark’s dining room, reception, lounge area and outdoor deck.

A two-and-a-half-hour drive from Sydney, Paperbark is also a stone’s throw from some of the South Coast’s most prized white-sand beaches. It’s surrounded by three national parks, and the camp provides canoes, kayaks, bikes and stand-up paddleboards for guests to explore the bush and waterways.

Paperbark is also a pioneer in Australian ecotourism – the elevated tents rely on sea breezes rather than air conditioning for cooling, and solar panels generate power for lighting. The restaurant’s menu is designed to minimise food kilometres and showcase regional produce, and the camp has even installed its own beehives.